Convertible cabinet



Jan; 26, 1954 H. G. KNUTH CONVERTIBLE CABINET 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 25, 1945 rill/I VII/Ill rll/l/I/l/ll/l/ Jan. 26, 1954 H. G. KNUTH 2,667,401

CONVERTIBLE CABINET Filed Nov. 23, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 mwwmmwn A! z nnwmny/zg IN V EN TOR.

1/5 J6 4%? GUZ/Qdf g BY Jan. 26, 1954 H. G. KNUTH 2,667,401

CONVERTIBLE CABINET Filed Nov. 25, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 1 P 1% 2Q? 2549 zj MIN fi, Zg;

Patented Jan. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE CONVERTIBLE CABINET Application November 23, 1945, Serial No. 630,289

Claims.

This invention relates to a convertible cabinet or utility cabinet. In the manufacture and use of cabinets the conventional practice is for the manufacturer or vendor to stock different types of cabinets such as broom cabinets, wardrobe cabinets, and the like, all as separate cabinets. This practice requires a large inventory and is space consuming.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a convertible cabinet comprising a main cabinet structure provided with spaced apart fastening means substantially coextensive with the height of the cabinet, which fastening devices are adapted to receive and hold various types of auxiliaries, such as shelves, hook racks and the like, wherein by providing a single cabi-, net of such construction together with a selected number of such auxiliaries, any type of cabinet may be made up from a desired combination of the auxiliaries applied quickly to the main cabinet and detachably fastened into position.

Yet another object of the invention resides in providing details of construction of a sheet metal cabinet which is made of few parts, simple in construction, rigid, and convertible with minimum of effort into a number of different types of cabinets for the storageof different commodi-' ties.

Another object of the invention is to provide as subcombination inventions different types of attachments adapted detachably to be fastened in position in the main cabinet, whereby it may be converted as hereinbefore described.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a perusal of the following specification when taken in connection with the, accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective front view of the cabinet with the doors closed, showing the cabinet as provided at its upper portion with two spaced apart horizontal shelves, the remainder of the, cabinet being free for storage of relatively lengthy articles;

Figure 2 shows a cabinet with the doors removed, purely for purposes of disclosure, and wherein a hook rack has been added so that the cabinet may be used as a cleaning implement cabinet;

Figure 3 shows the cabinet arranged for shelving only, to be used as a shelving type cabinet;

Figure 4 shows the cabinet converted to uses such as a pot and pan cabinet;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a plan section takenv on the line 66 of Figure5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectiona1 perspective view, the lower portion of one side of the cabinet and the door being removed;

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the cabinet, showing the relative parts in associated position with respect to each other, the doors not being included;

Figure 9 is a front perspective view of the cabinet without the doors, showing the associated garts as viewed in Figure 8 assembled into posiion;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the inside of one of the corners of the cabinet construction;

Figure it is a perspective view of one of the shelves;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of the locking means for the shelves in the cabinet, being taken on the line I2|'2 of Figure 13;

Figure 13' is a partial plan section taken on the line i3-I3 of Figure 14;

Figure 14 is a central vertical section taken on the line 4-44 of Figure 3;

Figure 15' is a partial plan sectional view taken on the line l5l 5 of Figure 16;

Figure 16 is a vertical sectional view of the lower portion of the cabinet and being taken on the line I 6l6 of Figure l; t

Figure 1'7 is a perspective view of the frame mechanism which forms a support for the vertical partitions as shown in Figure 4;

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the two shelves that form partitions, in the lower part of the cabinet, as shown in Figure 4;

Figure 19 is a perspective view of the bottom base plate to be used in connection with the construction as shown in Figure 4 Figure 20. is a detail sectional view taken on the line Lit-20 of Figure 19.;

Figure 21 is a perspective view. of the frame supporting unit as would be used in connection with the type or arrangement of cabinet as shown in Figure 2; p

Figure 22 is a, detail perspective view of the corner construction of the frame member as shown in Figure 21;

Figure 23 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 23.23 Of Figure 2;

Figure 24 is a fragmentary detail plan sectional view taken on the line 24-2-4 of Figure 21;

Figure 25 is a perspective view of a modified type of frame construction as adapted to be used in the construction of a cabinet as shown in Figure 4;

Figure '26 is a detail perspective view of one pieces. First there are two channel-shaped sheet metal pieces, the first having the front face 2 and the two right angle flanges 4 and 6. This member constitutes the front base support and is identical with a back base support comprising the vertical face 8 and the two horizontal right angle flanges l and 12. Then there are the two side base supports preferably formed of a single piece of sheet metal. The one to the left comprises a vertical face 14 and right angularly extended flanges such as the two opposite end flanges l and I8 and the two side flanges 20 and 22. In turn, the side flange 20 has the two depressed portions M and 26, while the opposite side flange 22 has the raised portions 25 and 23/ The other side base support comprises the plane vertical surface 34 and the end flanges 35, the opposite end flange not being shown, and opposed side flanges. The side flange 30 is provided with the depressed portions 31 and 38 corresponding with the depressed portions 24 and 26 of the opposite side piece and the other side flange is likewise provided with raised portions corresponding to 23 and 29 of the opposite portion. These front and back and side base supports are suitably welded together in the manner shown best in Figure '7 wherein the raised portion 29 of the bottom side flange 22 overlies the basal flange I!) of the back piece 8, being welded thereto, and the raised flange 28 in similar manner overlies and is welded to the basal flange 6 of the front piece 2. In a similar manner the side pieces 24, 26, 36 and 38 are likewise welded in position to the upper flanges 4 and I2 of the front and back pieces 2 and 8. Thus there is 7 provided a very solid base support upon which is bolted the bottom which preferably comprises a single piece of sheet metal such as 4!) having integral downwardly extending flanges 42 having an inwardly extending flange M, the skirt 46 having an inwardly extending flange 4B, the rear skirt 58 having an inwardly extending flange 52, and the skirt 54 having an inwardly extending flange 56. These flanges are all welded together at the corners to produce the rigid flanged rectangular bottom piece to receive the bolts which pass through the inwardly turned flanges and the horizontal upper flanges 4 and I Z of the front and back supports, as well as the flanges of the side supports.

In addition, the cabinet comprises two identical side members, the right side member and the left side member. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the left side member comprises the sheet metal side 58 having a right angularly extending flange 6B which has still another right angularly extending flange 52 terminating in a third flange 5%, see Figure '7, whereby to form a substantially hollow, rectangularly extending, upright post. The bottom part of this post is cut out as at 66 and 68, see Figure '7, to flttingly overlie a corner portion of the bottom 40. The front flange (it) is I05 are provided with spaced apart 4 welded as at 70 to the flange 42 of this bottom and likewise may have the bottom portion of the side 58 welded to the vertical wall 45 at the corner of the bottom. At the rear the side 58 is provided with the right angularly extending flange it which extends vertically thereof. The right side of the cabinet is identical with the left. It comprises a side sheet i2 having a front flange 74 which is at right angles thereto, which side in addition has a second right angle flange 16 which 'in turn terminates in an additional right angled flange 11, just as the opposite side is flanged. At the rear the side 12 is provided with a right angled flange 18. In addition there is the back 39, which is a plane, rectangular, longitudinally and vertically extending piece of sheet metal. This piece of metal lies in front of the two flanges it and i8 and is welded thereto as at H and 19, see Figured At suitable places vertically spaced therealong the flange 60 at its junction with the side 58 is provided with a series of cut-outs 8? to receive hinge members 83. In a similar manner the front hollow post portion of the right side is provided with a series of spaced slots or cut-outs as likewise to receive the barrel portions of the hinges as hereinafter described. In addition, substantially midway of the length of the two front walls 60 and 1d of the posts just described, areprovided the cut out slots 86 and 83 which, as shown in Figure 10, receive a rigidifying channel bar 99 having the two right angle parallel flanges 92 and 9 1 which extend into these slots and are welded thereto as at 95 and 98, see Figure 9. Rigidifying channel bars Hi0 each having parallel extending, right angularly disposed flanges I02 and I06, lie in the front corner post between the side 58 and the flange E52 and its terminal flange 6%. There is another section of such an identically shaped channel Hit having the parallel flanges 108 and Hi] which lie in this same location but directly below the cross bar 99, whereby the front bar 60, 62 and $5 is suitably rigidifled. These vertical channel bars mi! and latchreceiving openings or slots H2, as hereinafter more fully described. In addition to the bars 599 and H16 there are similar bars H5 having the flanges HS and and the bar H22 having the flanges 24 and 123 which lie in the upper and lower portions of the front bars 1 3 and it above and below the rigidifying cross bar 99. These two bars H6 and I22 likewise have openings corresponding to the openings N2 of the correspondingly oppositely disposed bar to receive latch mechanisms therein.

The back 80 is provided with two vertical series of upwardly and downwardly facing struck out lips which provide oppositely extending supporting ledges H8 and Hi], H8 being the downwardly extending lip and mi! being the upwardly extending lip, all as shown in Figures 7, 1e and 16, to receive the shelf edge and marginal walls of the hook rail assembly and the pot and pan supporting rail, and as shown in Figures 14, 23 and 27. These two vertical rows of lips are formed in the vertical edge portions of the back 80 at the points over which the flanges if! on the sides 18 overlap so that the apertures or holes which are thus punched outare closed by these overlapping flanges from the rear.

There is also a top comprising the rectangular sheet I30 having the marginal skirts I32 and I34 likewise provided with an inwardly extending flange such as the flange I36 of the front skirt Hg, This top member fits within the two sides 58 and 12 and the back 82 and its front corners flt within the slotted portions N8 of the post 58 and a corresponding out out portion 539 of the upper portion of the post it, and are welded or riveted thereto as at Edi) and M2. These two sides 58 and '52 are weldedas at ll and E9 to the sides and to the back.

As shown clearly in Figure 12, one of the flanges such as we is provided with a free tongue portion its which is adapted to snap past the ertical edge of the flange 6% when they channelshaped member lilil is inserted into position within this post formed by the sides 58, E2 and 6d. The channel member 5% is similarly provided with a free tongue to hold it in position.

Pairs of doors are provided for the front of the cabinet shown in Figures 1 and 5 and 6. Each door is formed of a sheet metal piece we, see Figure 5, provided with an upper flange Hi8 and curved arcuately at its bottom as at its and welded as at :56 to the edge of a rear facing or sheet metal 652 which has a flange E54 disposed between the weld E56 and the front I45. In addition, at its upper nd the facing M52 is provided with a flange iE-t which is welded as at H563 to flange M8. In addition, along the sides the front is provided with curved portions 552 and 55 which are welded to the inner portions of the vertically extending flanges its and 588 formed on the back portions 552 of door. lapping flanges as shown at lit and W2 are welded together at the vertical centers of the doors, as shown in Figure 6. At the central portion of the bar 2i? rubber stops lid are provided and rubber stops lit are also provided at the lower edges of the doors. these doors are of identical construction and are therefore given similar reference numerals herein. Each door is preferably provided with a handhold E53. The upper doors may be opened separately from the lower doors.

The back 88 is provided with a spaced series or" ledges therein formed in two vertical tiers. These ledges are spaced apart to provide down wardly extending lips [l2 and correspondingly upwardly extending lips 82 and are spaced apart as shown, and extend preferably the full vertical length of the back wall of the cabinet. These members cooperate with the holes H2 in the front posts we and H56 on each side of the door to receive fastening means for holding various attachments in position, and also to hold shelves in position.

Referring now to Figures 11, l2, l3 and I l,

each shelf comprises a piece of sheet metal providing a top ld-l having depending skirts E85 and 558, we and 592, at all four sides. At the front the depending skirt H85 is bent backwardly in diagonal fashion as at E8: and has itsunder ide liii welded as 23 to the underside of the top set. I'he diagonal portion l8? and the vertical front flange ass are provided with registering holes to receive a locking member comprising a thimble it l and a locking plunger 19-5 urged by a spring !98 forwardly out of the thimble its. A gripping handle 28E! isprovided which may be pulled rearwardly to retract the latch I95 from the hole i it in the front post Nil.

The details of construction of this latching member are disclosed and claimed in my application Serial No. 562,419, filed November 8, 1944, and assigned to the common assignee of this present application.

At the rear the rear flange I92 of the shelf 184 is provided with an extension which is di- Over- As hereinbefore stated,

tends at right angles to the rail 256.

agonally bent upwardly as at 202' and has an extension 204 welded as at. 206 to the underside of theushelf top I184. In Figure 14 there is shown the. manner in which the rear flange m2 of this shelf-is held in position between the downwardly depending lip H8 and its spaced upstanding lip. litilv on the back of the cabinet. Figure 2 0i the drawings shows. the cabinet as provided with the shelves in position.

:In addition to, or in substitution for the shelves, the series of lips [18 and I38 on the rear wall of the cabinet, and in conjunction with the holes H2 in the vertical posts It!) and N36,,

there is provided the rail assembly for hats and coats and other articles, shown particularly in Figures 21, 22, 23 and 24;. As here shown, a U-shaped' rail assembly is provided from three pieces or rails which have the general cross section shown in the end View at the left in Figure 22. Here there is provided a rail having a front vertical wall portion 208 which has two oppositely and parallel extending flanges 2m and 2l2. Flange 2l 0 is provided with a right angular extending flange 2M and flange 2l2 is provided with an oppositely'extending free flange 216. The ends of these flanged portions 244 and 2H! and H2 and 2l6 are provided with ears or lugs 2E8 and 220 which extend transversely to the planes of the flanges 2%, 2| 4 and 2H5 and are preterably likethe flanged portions [86 and I38 shown in Figure 12 to receive the latching device like that shown in Figure 12. The vertical wall 228 of this device may be provided with the spring clip mechanism 222' which may be riveted or welded thereto. The opposite end of this piece shown to the left in Figure 22 is angularly cut as shown at 2 -24 and 226, 228', 230 and 232 to interflt with complementary end c-ut sections shown at 236, 238, 2-40, 244, 246 and 248 of an additional rail 25!] which is exactly the same shape in cross section as the rail 208. This rail at its opposite end is similarly configured as at the other end to interflt with a rail 252 which ex- The outer end of rail 252 is provided with tabs 254 and 255 which in turn are provided with. the latching devices 2'58 and 260, like those shown at we on rail 228. Rail 250 may be provided with hooks 262 and 264 riveted or welded or otherwise fixed thereto. In Figure 23 the disposition of the hook rail assembly in the integral lips I78 and I82 at the back 82 of the cabinet is shown, together with the latches I96 entering the notches H2 in the front rails. The upper portions of the flanges 214 underlie the free ends of the downwardly extending lips 11B and the inside portions of the flanges 2l0 overlie the upwardly projecting lips I80 and underlie the downwardly projecting lips I18. The downward edges of the lips 2H5 lie behind. the outwardly and upwardly projecting lips I80 whereby to hold the hook rail securely in position as shown in Figure 2.

In lieu of the hook rail, or in addition to the hook rail, a U-shapedhook rack may be provided as shown in Figures 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29. This hook rack is of the same general cross sectional configuration as the hook racks 208, 252 and 252. This hook rack is likewise formed or sections 25 2'68 and 270 which at the junction of the separate sections are interfitted in the manner shown in Figure 29 and include end tabs 2'52 which interfit behind the front walls of the central section 268- in the manner therein shown. The front vertical central walls ofthese sections 266, 268

and 210 are provided with a series of holes 214 to receive the shanks 216 of hooks 218. The opposite ends of these shanks are carried by preferably rectangular blocks 280 which fit within the squared channel walls formed by the front surfaces 282 and the upper and lower surfaces 284 and 286 of this rail. When this rail, which is adapted to support pots and pans and other devices, is secured in place in the manner shown in Figure 27 by the lip members I18 and I80 of the back 86, the blocks will be held securely in position and the hooks rigidly held to receive the pots and pans and dustbrooms, and what not. The front portions of this rail are likewise provided with the right angularly disposed tabs 288 and 256 and latching devices 292 and 294, in the manner herein described, to cooperate with the holes H2 in the front posts I80 and H36.

In addition'to the foregoing, there is provided a rack shown in Figures 15, 16 and 17 to hold the upper ends of certain of the shelves in vertically extending position whereby these shelves may be used as vertical dividers for the bottom of the cabinet so as to receive dustpans and other articles. The bracket is shown in Figure 17 as comprising two parallel straps 300 and 302, each of which has a front, upwardly extending, right angled portion 3% and 326 formed to hold one of the latching members 398 and 350 to en gage the holes H2 in the front posts, hereinbefore described. In addition, the straps are provided with transversely extending slots 3E2 for purposes hereinafter described. Each strap is provided with a reversely bent, oppositely extending flange M4 to which is welded a cross strap 316 which unites the two straps 302 and 392 and gives it rigidity, When in position these straps 360 and 362 are held by the upper and lower lips I18 and Hit of the back 80 and are likewise held by the latch mechanisms 303 and 3H3 engaging the holes i 52 in the front posts.

Two of the shelf members shown in Figure 11 are now utilized to form in conjunction with a bottom support a series of vertical dividers. The bottom support is shown in Figure 19 as comprising a sheet metal plate-like member 318 to which is afiixed a linoleum plate 322. Riveted thereto as at 32% are a series of u -shaped clips 32B and 328 and L-shaped clips 336 and 332 so that when this linoleum bottom plate is placed in position and rests upon the bottom as of the cabinet, it will provide the cliplike spacers for receiving the rear flanged ends :92 of the shelves, the latching mechanisms of the front walls I86 of these shelves entering the openings 3l2 of the strap 335 and 32:3 whereby securely to hold these shelf dividers in position as shown in Figures 4 and 16. a

By referring to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive it will be seen that the cabinet as herein constructed, together with the auxiliary devices and attachments, provides a wardrobe or cabinet having a plurality of uses. For instance, in Figure 2 the shelves E85 are inserted at the top in the manner hereinbefore described, and the coat rack shown at 25:; in Figure 21 is preferably inserted in the position indicated, although it may occupy a higher or'a lower vertical position with respect to the cabinet. The bottom portion of the cabinet in Figure 2 is not provided with shelves for the storage of articles.

In Figure 3 the wardrobe is shown as being provided with a vertical tier of the shelves, and in Figure 4 the cabinet is shown as provided with a series of pan support rails and with two of the shelves disposed vertically with the linoleum bottom in position to hold the bottom of the shelves, the clip rack shown in Figure 17 holding the top portions of the shelves as shown in Figure 16. The adaptability of the cabinet to these various changes is secured by providing the two vertical series of tongue-like lips H8 and I8!) shown in Figures 14 and 23, in cooperation with the latch members I 96 and the perforations H2 in the two front posts Hi8 and I08. These lips and holes cooperate with the coat rail assembly and the pot and pan rails to provide various combinations of compartments, rails, and shelves herein illustrated.

Obviously the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction disclosed herein but is capable of other modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cabinet having two spaced sides and a back formed of sheet metal, the back being formed with two spaced vertical series of integral struck out lips spaced apart vertically, alternate lips extending upwardly and inwardly, and alternate lips extending downwardly and inwardly, a support rail comprising two parallel legs and a back, said rail having a, cross section providing an intermediate vertical wall and upper and lower horizontal parallel flanges each terminating in upwardly and downwardly disposed vertical terminal flanges lying in a common plane, the upper edge of one of said last mentioned flanges underlying a downwardly extending lip and the lower edge of the lowermost of said last mentioned flanges overlying an upwardly extending lip, the free ends of the parallel leg portions of said rail being provided with shiftable latch mechanisms adapted to engage a front wall of the cabinet whereby to cooperate with the upwardly and downwardly extending lips on the back wall of the cabinet for holding the support rail on the cabinet, the vertical central portion of said rail being provided with openings and means having a portion passing through an opening in said central portion of said rail and projecting forwardly thereof into the interior of the cabinet for holding an article.

2. A cabinet having two spaced sides and a back formed of sheet metal, the back being formed with two spaced vertical series of integral struck out lips spaced apart vertically, alternate lips extending upwardly and inwardly, and alternate lips extending downwardly and inwardly, a pot and pan support rail comprising two parallel legs and a back and having a cross section provided with an intermediate vertical wall and upper and lower horizontal parallel flanges each terminating in upwardly and downwardly disposed terminal flanges lying in a common plane, the upper edge of one of said last mentioned flanges underlying a downwardly extending lip and the lower edge of the lowermost of said last mentioned flanges overlying an upwardly extending lip, the free ends of the leg portions of said rail being provided with shiftable latch mechanisms adapted to engage a front wall of the cabinet whereby to cooperate with the upwardly and downwardly extending lips on the back wall of the cabinet for holding the support rail on the cabinet, the vertical central portion of said rail having article holding means thereon projecting into the interior of the cabi- 9 net, said rail having detachable interlocking joints between the back and the two leg portions.

3. A cabinet comprising two sides and a back, the sides terminating in vertically extending, spaced apart front posts providing an opening therebetween, channel members vertically received in said posts, the inner vertical walls of said posts being provided with a series of vertically spaced openings, the back member in registration with said front openings being provided with a vertical series of spaced apart, integral, inwardly struck lips providing spaced apart horizontal supports, said cabinets having a bottom, a plate-like member adapted to rest on said bottom and having spaced pairs of upstanding clips, a strap-like support comprising two horizontal straps and an interconnecting strap at the rear, the front edges of said straps having upstanding vertical flange portions, a spring pressed latch carried by each of said flange portions, the horizontal straps being provided with spaced slots therein, the cross strap being bent at right angles to the two spaced straps, and a partition of sheet metal having right angled skirts integrally formed therewith, the front and back skirts having extensions bent diagonally upwardly and underlying and secured to the underside of the body of the partition, a spring pressed latch mechanism mounted in the front skirt at spaced points thereof, and including a forwardly projecting plunger, said partition being vertically positioned in said cabinet with its rear skirt lying in a pair of the clips on the bottom plate and with the spring pressed latch members projecting outwardly and engaging in the slots of the spaced straps of the bracket members whereby to hold said partition in vertical position at the bottom of the cabinet, the transversely disposed cross strap at the rear interconnecting said two spaced straps having its lower edges overlying one of the upwardly extending lips, the top edge of the cross strap underlying one of the downwardly depending lips on the back of said cabinet.

4. A sheet metal rail assembly comprising a back portion and two leg portions, the ends of said back and leg portions having angularly disposed slots therein arranged to interfit so as to maintain the back and legs at right angles to each other, the cross section of the back and the two legs including a vertical intermediate wall portion and upper and lower parallel longitudinally extending flanges, the two flanges terminating in oppositely extending vertical flanges lying in a common plane, and article supporting means carried by the vertical intermediate portion, the outer ends of said leg portions including upper and lower lugs extending at right angles to the plane of said intermediate vertical wall, and latch mechanisms carried thereby and extending outwardly at right angles to the plane of the lugs.

5. A cabinet having two spaced sides and a back formed of sheet metal, the back being formed with two vertically disposed spaced series of integrally struck out lips spaced apart vertically, alternate lips extending upwardly and inwardly, and alternate lips extendin downwardly an inwardly, and a rail assembly comprising two spaced apart parallel legs and a transversely disposed back portion disposed normally to and connected at its ends to have legs, the back portion of said rail assembly having vertically spaced horizontal flange portions extending inwardly of the rear edge thereof and oppositely directed vertical flanges at the rear edges of said horizontal flange portions, said rail assembly bein mounted in the cabinet in such a manner that the upwardly and downwardly extending adjacent lips of the back'of the cabinet underlie and overlie certain of the surfaces of said horizontal flange portions of the rail, and that the next adjacent lips below and above said first mentioned pair of lips underlie and overlie the bottom and top edges of the vertical flanges of saaid horizontal portions, and means for detachably securing the front edges of said two sides of said rail assembly to the front of the cabinet.

6. A cabinet including a back and two vertically extending spaced sides, each side at the front being bent reversely inwardly to form an integral hollow substantially rectangular column, the inner free end of said reversely bent portion being spaced from the adjacent side wall, a rigiditying channel of sheet metal having an intermediate wall and integral spaced parallel side flanges, said channel being disposed in the space between the adjacent side wall and the free inner end of said reversely bent portion, and the flange of said channel adjacent said free inner end of the rectangular column having a tongue portion formed thereon adapted to engage said free end whereby to hold said channel in assembled relationship with said column.

7. A cabinet including a back and two vertically extending spaced sides, each side at the front being bent reversely inwardly to form an integral hollow substantially rectangular column, the inner free end of said reversely bent portion being spaced from the adjacent side wall, a rigidfying channel of sheet metal having an intermediate wall and integral spaced parallel side flanges, said channel being disposed in the space between the adjacent side wall and the free inner end of said reversely bent portion, the flange of said channel adjacent said free inner end of the rectangular column having a tongue portion formed thereon adapted to engage said free end whereby to hold said channel in assembled relationship with said column, and means formed on said back and said channels adapted to support auxiliary article supporting portions.

8. A cabinet including a back and two vertically extending spaced sides, said back having two spaced vertical series of integral struck out lips spaced apart vertically, certain of said lips in each series extending upwardly and inwardly and alternate lips in each series extendin downwardly and inwardly, each side at the front being bent reversely inwardly to form an integral hollow substantially rectangular column, the inner end of said reversely bent portion being spaced from the adjacent side wall, a rigidifying channel of sheet metal having an intermediate Wall and integral spaced parallel side flanges, said channel being disposed in the space between the side wall and the free inner end of said reversely bent portion, the flange of said channel adjacent said free inner end of the rectangular column having a tongue portion formed thereon adapted to engage said free end whereby to hold said channel in assembled relationship with said column, and the intermediate wall of said channel having a vertical series of apertures formed therein, said lips and said apertures being adapted to co-operate to support auxiliary supporting means.

9. A cabinet as set forth in claim 8, wherein the inwardly extending portions of the lips are arcuate in a direction vertically of the back and the curved free edges of each of the lips lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to the back.

10. A cabinet including a back and two vertically extending spaced sides, said back having two spaced vertical series of integral struck out lips spaced apart vertically, certain of said lips in each series extending upwardly and inwardly alternate lips in each series extending downwardly and inwardly, each of said sides having a flange overlying the rear wall of the back and overlying the openings formed by said lips to close said openings, each side at the front being bent reversely inwardly to form an integral hollow substantially rectangular column, the inner end of said reversely bent portion being spaced from the adjacent side wall, a rigidifying channel of sheet metal having an intermediate wall and integral spaced parallel side flanges, said channel being disposed in the space between the side wall and the free inner end of said reversely bent portion, the flange of said channel adjacent said free inner end of the rectangular column having a tongue portion formed thereon adapted to engage said free end whereby to hold said channel in assembled relationship with said column, and the intermediate wall of said channel having a vertical series of apertures formed therein, said lips and said apertures being adapted to co-operate to support auxiliary supporting means.

HARVEY G. KNUTH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Rowe June 11, 1878 Hart Mar. 22, 189 Carnahan Sept. 19, 1899 Krag Jan. 23, 1906' Senge June 17, 1913 Terrell Aug. 28, 1917 Edgren Jan. 15, 1929 Gerberich Feb. 25, 1930 Imrie' Apr. 7, 1931 Larson et al June 23, 1931 Sandberg Aug. 18, 1931 Harris Dec. 4, 1934 Holt Dec, 7, 1937 Shuart Aug. 15, 1939 Barnsteiner Dec. 24, 1940 Knuth Aug. 12, 1941 Bales May 1, 1945 Welden June 26, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Aug. 19, 1911 

